Charlotte grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia with none other than Atlanta Braves rookie, Dansby Swanson. They remained close through college despite heading separate ways and now they are both back in Atlanta, Dansby with the Braves and Char...
Dansby pulled me in for a tight hug as we closed the back door of the U-haul rental. We had packed up most of my belongings the day before in preparation for the trip to Tallahassee, Florida - where I would be attending college at Florida State University.
"Come visit?" I peered up at one of my best friends though sleepy eyes. I was not a morning person. Dansby and I met in grade school and immediately clicked. Now he was leaving for Nashville to play baseball for Vanderbilt and I was going to my parents alma mater, FSU.
Dansby nodded and assured me that we would see each other at holiday time when we both returned to Atlanta to see our families. It would still be rough. I didn't know anyone in Tallahassee and was very nervous to be so far from home.
"Let's load up and hit the road, pumpkin." My dad called from the driver side. "We have a long drive."
I gave Dansby and my friend Lucy, who had also come to say bye, one last hug before hopping into my Jeep. I followed my dad down the driveway and we turned to head south, my windows down and wind in my hair as I waved bye.
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***DECEMBER 2016***
"Why did I agree to lunch?" I asked my coworker, Julia, as we walked out of work at 8 am after a long night shift. We both worked as emergency room nurses at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. I had recently moved back to Atlanta after finishing nursing school and working briefly in Tallahassee. Don't get me wrong, I loved it in Tally but I was itching to move back home after a few years away.
"Because...it's your best friend and you havent seen him in, what did you say, a little over a year?"
She was right. Dansby and I had been pretty good about keeping in touch and seeing each other when we could, but between nursing school for me and baseball for him, it had been a struggle at times. This last year had been espeically hard for us with me starting my career and him being called up by the Braves and everything that entailed.
So when he text me a few days ago to ask if we could get lunch, I quickly agreed. Now I just wasn't sure if even the excitement of seeing him would get me through until lunch time.
"You'll be fine. Just go home and work out. By the time you work out and then shower and get ready, it will be close to lunch time. Just whatever you do, don't sit down on your bed or you will be out like a light!"
I knew she was right and so as soon as I got home and walked my puppy , I headed to the gym to do my shoulder workout and some cardio. I ran home, showering and getting dressed just in time to make the drive to where Dansby wanted to meet. I knew the drive would take me a good 30 minutes depening on the traffic.
"Charlie!!!" I heard from across the parking lot when I got out of my car.
"Dans!!" We ran and tackled each other in a hug, almost falling to pavement.We laughed and headed inside where we spent the next 2 hours catching up with each other.
"Hey, my mom told me to pass along that she expects to see you at our Christmas party." Danby said as he paid for our lunch and we headed out the door. I knew that after Christmas and New Years, the time would fly by and Danby would be headed to Orlando for Spring Training with the team. I definitely wanted to spend as much time together as we could before the busyness that is baseball season descended on us.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world. Thank you for lunch." He walked me to my Jeep and held the door open while I climbed in.
"I inited some of the team. I'm excited for you to meet them. Markakis and Inciarte will definitely be there. Some other guys too. Some of them are single, you know...."
I rolled my eyes at his never endding attempts at playing Cupid.
"Give it up, Swanson."
"Honest, Charlie. I'm not going to meddle. Im just saying some of them are single like you."
We hugged and headed our separate ways, agreeing that we would see each at the Christmas party that next weekend.
*** authors note --- the pic in the media is what I imagine Charlotte to look like. My info regarding timing of events and accuracy of some baseball info may be a little off in future chapters, but bear with me! It's my first story and it's just for fun!
